A former Melbourne Demons great and a Wallaby star have been key contacts during Australian Test captain Tim Paine's neck surgery as he looks to be fit for the upcoming Ashes series.
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The 36-year-old had been experiencing pain in his neck and left arm due to a bulging disc and underwent surgery earlier this week.
Speaking on Jack and Painey on SEN, the Australian Test captain discussed how retired Melbourne star Nathan Jones and ex-Gold Coast Titans player Mat Rogers had played a part in his decision to go under the knife.
"I was lucky Nathan Jones from Melbourne has had a similar surgery, a guy who played for the Gold Coast Titans and the Wallabies [called] Mat Rogers has also had it done so they're two guys that I spoke too," he said.
"Mat Rogers played an NRL game in six weeks that's pretty remarkable and I think Nathan Jones had it done after his last round game and was started training fully day one of AFL preseason so precedent has been set to get back reasonably quickly."
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With a home Ashes series only months away, Paine said it was a no-brainer to get the surgery done ahead of what could be his last Australia tour.
"I had the bulging disc pressing down on the nerve canal in the spine so I was having a few issues down the left-side of my body, it was sort of getting to that touch-and-go stage where I either don't get it done and take the risk that I'll be right for the Ashes or get it done now and make sure that I am," he said.
"I didn't want to have any long-term issues with my left arm in particular, I was losing a lot of strength in my left arm, I was getting a lot of nerve pain down the back of my left arm and I didn't want that to become anything permanent.
"I've got a young family, I want to be able to pick up my kids."
Speculation continues about whether the Tasmanian will hang up the gloves after the home tour and Paine was giving nothing away ahead of it getting underway.
"I am certainly not looking at it as my last series, it certainly could be who knows, we don't know," he said.
"I think anytime you get to play in an Ashes ... it's like a finals series for Australian cricketers they're the one we look forward too, hopefully it all works out the Poms come over and do their quarantine and their families are okay with it and we can get it on."
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